as in spectators
someone who sees or watches something
bystanders rushed to help the victim of the mugging
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Recent Examples of bystanders
Nobody else at or near the scene, including the two friends the girl was with, plus bystanders who witnessed the gunman flee, pointed the finger at Ruiz.
—
Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Jennifer Moriarty said officers grabbed her by the neck, shoved her in a vehicle, and then got angry at other bystanders.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Several bystanders stopped to help Corrigan at the scene, with one person applying pressure to his wounds until first responders arrived, according to the report.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Swimming through Lake Mission Viejo and riding and running through the city’s streets, the athletes covered miles with supporters and curious bystanders cheering them on.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2026
Video obtained by police from bystanders showed a black Mercedes driving on College Street that appeared to intentionally drive at people standing on the sidewalk, according to police.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Police gave bystanders little information, telling them there was an active shooter and to avoid the area.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
The victim was able to escape to a nearby gas station, where bystanders called 911, according to the release.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Several people could be seen punching and kicking others as bystanders urged them to stop.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Jennifer Moriarty said officers grabbed her by the neck, shoved her in a vehicle, and then got angry at other bystanders.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Several bystanders stopped to help Corrigan at the scene, with one person applying pressure to his wounds until first responders arrived, according to the report.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Swimming through Lake Mission Viejo and riding and running through the city’s streets, the athletes covered miles with supporters and curious bystanders cheering them on.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2026
Video obtained by police from bystanders showed a black Mercedes driving on College Street that appeared to intentionally drive at people standing on the sidewalk, according to police.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Police gave bystanders little information, telling them there was an active shooter and to avoid the area.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
The victim was able to escape to a nearby gas station, where bystanders called 911, according to the release.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Several people could be seen punching and kicking others as bystanders urged them to stop.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bystanders
Noun
-
Met Gala spectators may not get a ticket into the A-list affair.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
-
The regents may gather themselves by then and realize they have been relegated to mere spectators with titles as others strain to keep secret the complaint and how it was handled.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
One challenge facing Fed observers is that the difference between monetary and non-monetary functions at the central bank can be less than clear.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
-
Through those observers, the radio station provided a play-by-play of Pirates home games, which was a practice that undermined the Pirates’ exclusive broadcasting deal with a different radio station.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Heavy draperies on a curtain rod were drawn back to reveal the work, which viewers often had to line up for hours to see.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Imagine an audience in the theater interacting in real time with viewers at home, or productions unfolding simultaneously onstage and behind the scenes for different audiences.—
Glenn Davis,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bystanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bystanders. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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